As if Nintendo doesn’t have enough of our money after the recent launch of the DSi, they’re bringing another DS to American shores. In a press release this morning, they announced a new green DS.

Apparently, Nintendo is aiming this DS model squarely at your mom. According to their press release, “The new bundle will be available on May 3, which just happens to be a week before Mother’s Day (hint, hint).” In keeping with this idea, the new green DS will be bundled with a carrying case and a copy of Personal Trainer: Cooking.

You can check out the full press release, as well as photos of the packaging and questionably attractive carrying case, after the break.

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Realizing that the years of suing people for pirating music online have basically done nothing but waste time and money, the lovely RIAA has decided to punish you another way–but cutting off your internet.

According to a piece published by the Wall Street Journal, the move from individuals to ISPs seems like the next logical step for the RIAA since the “I’ll sue your ass off” tactics are not working (I add the last bit in there):

The [RIAA] said it plans to try an approach that relies on the cooperation of Internet-service providers. The trade group said it has hashed out preliminary agreements with major ISPs under which it will send an email to the provider when it finds a provider’s customers making music available online for others to take.

Depending on the agreement, the ISP will either forward the note to customers, or alert customers that they appear to be uploading music illegally, and ask them to stop. If the customers continue the file-sharing, they will get one or two more emails, perhaps accompanied by slower service from the provider. Finally, the ISP may cut off their access altogether.

In the piece, it states that the RIAA has filed approximately 35,000 lawsuits against people since 2002, and instead of dropping the lawsuits and going with their new tactics, they are continuing to seek monetary damages from the individuals currently in litigation. So, newbies will get their internet cut off, ones already in trouble will still get sued. Yeah, like I can see AT&T/Bellsouth or Verizon or any cable company cutting the cord until absolutely forced to. The RIAA is a trade group, and even though they have the government on their side, it is just boggling to think that they could actually be allowed to do something like this.

Point is, don’t steal. We have all done it online one time or another be it music, games, movies… just don’t do it anymore. The days of copying any of the above on CD, VHS or cassette are long gone in the technology age and where as you would not get caught–eventually you will now. It is better to save yourself the headache and just not do it. Don’t get me wrong, the RIAA reminds me of the gestapo and I do not support them, but I don’t think we should steal either.

(Thanks: GamePolitics) (Image: Inforwars)

According to a report on GamesIndustry.biz, a spokesperson named Cameron Gunn from the company Resolve, who is dealing with the administrative end of Free Radica,l has admitted that 185 employees have been let go, but that they have been paid for the rest of December. While the company is indeed in serious trouble, it still has 40 remaining employees working on game concepts and are expected to keep their jobs into the beginning of next year. At this time though, Free Radical has yet to find a publisher for the game(s) they are working on.

Gunn stated that:

“The company was placed into administration yesterday afternoon [and] we will be spending the next three or four days assessing the financial position of the company but it’s business as usual, although we have asked that almost all of the employees apart from a skeleton crew remain at home. All employees have been paid up until the end of December and we hope to make another announcement before Christmas or very soon thereafter, but we must stress at this stage that it’s business as usual.”

Meanwhile, Tiga CEO Richard Wilson has expressed his sadness over the situation and had this to say:

“On behalf of all Tiga members, I would like to say how sorry the whole industry is to hear of the fate of Free Radical Design. The studio has employed some very talented teams developing first class games over the years. Free Radical Design has also been a member of Tiga and a strong supporter of our trade association.

I would like to congratulate everyone at the studio for their past achievements and I wish everyone good fortune in finding a new job as quickly as possible. Free Radical Design’s demise highlights the difficult economic environment in which UK games developers do business.”

Using Free Radical as a sounding board for why the UK government needs to step up and support the videogame industry, he went on to state:

“The best outcome for the UK video games industry is an increase in the sector’s rate of growth and the return of the UK as the third largest developer of video games in the world. If we are to achieve these results then the Government must establish a more favorable tax environment and tackle the underlying skills shortages facing the industry.

A tax break for games production and a larger supply of skilled workers may not have saved Free Radical Design. Nonetheless, this policy approach would strengthen the UK video games sector. The Secretary of State for BERR must take action.”

Yet, according to some breaking news, there may just be hope yet for Free Radical.

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id Software and the QuakeCon organization has just announced that QuakeCon 2009 will take place August 13 – 16, 2009, in Dallas, TX at the Hilton Anatole Hotel. As always, the event is free to all so there is no reason for you not to participate in North America’s largest “Bring-Your-Own-Computer” LAN party. Spots will be available for 3,000 gamers to hook their systems up and play and, of course, the big-money pro tournaments are back featuring id Software’s new free-to-play, web-based multiplayer game Quake Live.

Wanna go but don’t wanna bring your computer? No problem because QuakeCon gaming and technology companies will be on hand to demonstrate their latest hardware and software in a 35,000 square foot exhibit hall, and every day of QuakeCon is packed with contests, entertainment, announcements, panel discussions, and parties.

Online registration for QuakeCon will begin at 9:30pm EST / 6:30pm PST on March 6, 2009. Participation in the BYOC, tournaments, exhibits, conferences, and all other events is free of charge.

The Hilton Anatole is now taking room reservations for QuakeCon 2009 through their custom QuakeCon Reservation Page or through their toll-free reservations number, 1-800-HILTONS. To receive the specially negotiated room rate of $145 (single, double, triple or quad occupancy) and the special daily self-park rate of $7 (regularly $15 per day), you must request the group rate for “QuakeCon 2009″ or book through the link above when making your reservation. You must be a guest of the hotel to receive the discounted parking rate during the event. The hotel requires a first night’s deposit on reservations (refundable up to 48-hours in advance of the first day of the event). Rooms at this special rate are limited.

Seems like the team at 3D Realms working on the long awaited Duke Nukem Forever is giving fans of the series a small taste of what to expect by way of a screenshot from the upcoming (maybe someday) game.

Anyway, here is a nice little Christmas wish from 3D Realms:

We at 3D Realms wish to extend a safe and happy holiday wish to all our site visitors. We hope your holiday season brings you something joyful, and something fulfilling. We’ll see you on the flip side of the holidays.

In the meantime, we head out to Christmas break with this small treat for you. Due to (how shall we say it), “popular demand”, here is a new Duke Nukem Forever wallpaper image.

While it is pretty decent screenshot, I think that guys who follow the link to the website where it was posted will like the shot below it better. Personally I think the blond has the better “assets” but then again, I like a little junk in the truck. (Hey, I can appreciate a nice looking woman without wanting one so keep those comments to yourself pervs).

According to a report by ps3fanboy and showing up on NeoGAF, the trophies for the Metal Gear Solid
pack for LittleBigPlanet. On top of that, Media Molecule has said that upcoming level packs will include new gameplay elements: “I don’t think that people are expecting what it’s going to be and I’m so excited by that,” said Evans of the Metal Gear pack. “The surprise element is just a big part of it.”

The costumes hitting December 23 will cost you $1.99 each or get you can get all 4 for the price of 3 at $5.99. Player-creators also have the option to get the Metal Gear Solid Premium Level Pack for $5.99 which fills your Pop-it tool with MGS-themed “Create” materials plus objects, stickers and other goodies. All are listed below:

• A 5th Sackboy costume…the Gurlokovich Soldier
• 72 New Stickers
• 12 New Materials
• 10 New Decorations
• 18 New objects
• New background music track
• 3 new interactive music tracks
• New Metal Gear Solid themed ‘sound object’
• New Plasma Ball ‘danger element’
• New Laser Sight ‘gadget’
• New functioning Searchlight lamp
• 12 new Trophies to unlock
• THE PAINTINATOR and Paint Switch

With the THE PAINTINATOR you’ll be able to splatter anything that comes between you and the end of any level. Shoot paintballs with the R1 button and using the right stick to aim. Paintballs will hit very weak slap. Shoot ‘Brains’ from a safe distances now and progress thru levels much easier. The Paint Switch, so you can attach it to any object and set it to destruct after being splattered with enough paint.

Now if you don’t buy it, no worries, you’ll still be able to enjoy the MGS fun! Non-MGS Level Pack owners can PLAY the MGS Story Levels by joining a “host” who owns the pack and play the levels online together. You won’t be able to keep any objects, but you can experience the new features. MGS Level Pack owners will also be able to CREATE levels with any of these items (including the Paintinator) and SHARE them online for everyone to play.

Sounds like fun! Thanks NeoGaf for posting this info from the LittleBigWorkshop. If you hit that link, you can also view a trailer. More screens are posted below.

Read the full article »

Gamers who play Guitar Hero: World Tour can look forward to an eclectic mix of tracks for the music simulation game come January. A full album from Oasis, a little bit of country (?) and Travis Barker tracks from Blink 182 and +44. Before January though, on December 23 Hinder’s “Use Me”, Nickelback’s “Because of You”, and Rev Theory’s “Light It Up” will be made available.

Come January 8 though, country comes to World Tour in the form of a Country Track Pack featuring Rascal Flatt’s “Me and My Gang”, Brad Paisley’s “Ticks” and Brooks & Dunn’s “Hillbilly Deluxe.” Hmmm… I wonder when we will get some good country like Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Jim Reeves, Waylon Jennings, Keith Whitley, etc etc. “New country” is just not “country”. Even some Hank Senior would be cool even though his lyrics can be a bit depressing.

On the other side of the spectrum, Travis Barker is returning to Guitar Hero on January 15 with a three song track pack featuring songs from his stint with Blink 182, “What’s My Age Again”, and “Lycanthrope” from his work with +44. His solo-project Flo Rida will include the track “Low”.

January 22 sill see a track pack featuring Australian band Silverchair’s “Tomorrow”, and Wolfmother’s “Dimension” and The Vines’ “Outtathaway!”.

Finally, Oasis will release their latest album Dig Out Your Soul on January 29. “Bag it Up,” “Waiting for the Rapture” and “The Shock of the Lightning” are already available as a track pack, but now the following songs will be included: “The Turning,” “I’m Outta Time,” “(Get Off Your) High Horse Lady,” “Falling Down,” “To Be Where There’s Life,” “Ain’t Got Nothin,” “The Nature of Reality” and “Soldier On.”

The Oasis Album will be available on Xbox Live for 1520 Microsoft Points ($18.99) and on the PlayStation Store for the PS3 for $18.99. The Track Packs will be released for 440 Microsoft Points ($5.50) and PS3 system for $5.49. The songs on the Oasis Album and in each Track Pack will be released as downloadable singles for Xbox 360 for 160 Microsoft Points ($2.60), PS3 for $1.99 and Wii for 200 Wii Points.

A bunch of different writers from some of our favorite television series of all time have joined forces with Machinima.com to write 15 episodic comedy pilots. The Machinima Comedy Lab pilots will air on the website, but when… we don’t know yet because they have not announced a release date.

According to the press release, writers from The Simpsons, Saturday Night Live, Family Guy and Futurama (among others) and Bill Oakley from The Simpsons seems pretty excited about it.
“Machinima.com lets us put our work in front of an audience that already knows and loves our style of writing and is embracing new forms of digital entertainment,” said Bill Oakley, an Emmy-winning writer and past showrunner of The Simpsons. “We get to do what we love the most”write and create fun content while Machinima.com handles all the production, marketing and distribution.”

Here are just some of the writers we can expect pilots from:

• Chris Cluess: Mad TV, The Simpsons, Beggars and Choosers, Cheers, SCTV
• Bill Freiberger: Drawn Together, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, The Simpsons
• Eric Horsted: Boondocks, Knights of Prosperity, Futurama, Home Improvement, Coach
• Ken Keeler: Futurama, The Simpsons, Wings, The Naked Truth, The Critic, The Late Show
• Stacie Lipp: King of Queens, Roseanne, Married With Children
• Christina Lynch: Wildfire, The Dead Zone, Unhappily Ever After
• Peggy Nicoll: WordGirl, Daria
• Bill Oakley: Mission Hill, The Simpsons, Futurama
• Max Pross & Tom Gammill: The Simpsons, Seinfeld, Monk, The Critic, Saturday Night Live, The Late Show
• Mike Rowe: Family Guy, Futurama, Comedy Central Roasts, The Jaime Kennedy Experiment
• Loren Segan: Wildfire, The Dead Zone, Spyder Games
• Patric M. Verrone: Futurama, Muppets Tonight!, The Simpsons, The Critic, Pinky and the Brain
• Maiya Williams: Mad TV, The PJs, The Wayans Bros., The Fresh Prince of Bel Air

“As an emerging entertainment network, we’re dedicated to bringing aboard top creative talent,” said Allen DeBevoise, Machinima.com chairman and chief executive officer. “Machinima.com provides these writers with a new, evolving medium in which to reach the highly desired 18 to 34 male audience, showcase creativity and develop episodic pilots for multiple platforms.”

If any of the episodes are anything like the Machinima used in “Make Love Not Warcraft”, we are in for a treat.

Check back with us as more information and a schedule becomes available.

EA Mobile sent us a nice little email this morning letting us know that the company has released SimCity for both the iPhone and iPod Touch. Now, gamers who like the Sim games can take it on the road where while in a traffic jam, sitting on the commode or just bored during that sakes meeting they can construct, manage and even destroy their own dream city, all from the palm of their hand.

“SimCity for the iPhone and iPod touch takes mobile games to a whole new level,” said Adam Sussman, VP Publishing Americas and Asia for EA Mobile. “Easy to learn, a lifetime to master, it’s one of the largest mobile games ever produced, providing our customers with hundreds of hours of great gameplay.”

Users of either device can build an entire metropolis and incorporate contemporary landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge and the Washington Monument into your city. Like the PC game, if you strike the perfect balance between industrial and residential zones to keep your city thriving, your citizens will be happy. Ready to start over or indulge even more in your god complex? Then just tap the screen to call in a disaster and watch UFO’s rain destruction upon your city’s foundation.

You can get SimCity from the Apple App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or by visiting EA Mobile online.

Gamers who are current subscribers to GameTap either for the free service or subscription service are in for a treat this week with American McGee’s Grimm Volume 2, Episode 16 and Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War Gold. The freebie this week is none other than King of Fighters 2003.

Grimm Volume 2, Episode 16: A Christmas Carol: We all know the tale of Ebeneezer Scrooge and how awful, nasty and mean-spirited he was until death and some ghosts made him change his ways. But how would this tale by Dickens have ended if our little vile troll Grimm has his way? Not as nice, I can tell you that much!

Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War Gold Edition: This RTS from Relic and THQ contains the amplified Game of the Year version Dawn of War, as well as its first expansion pack, Dawn of War: Winter Assault, which introduced a new faction, a new campaign, and gameplay tweaks that assure the most balanced and fun Dawn of War experience possible.

King of Fighters 2003: The tournament is back, this time hosted by an unknown patron. But the tournament has sinister underpinnings, and someone, or something, once again seeks the power of the demon Orochi. There’s only one way to bring an end to this sinister plot, and it involves a lot of butt-kicking.

King of Fighters 2003 will be free to play for a week and Grimm: A Christmas Carol will be free to play until Wednesday, December 31 for some nasty Christmas fun. If you have not signed up for GameTap yet, you can do so by visiting the official website where you can look through their many many subscription games and 145 free ones.

Next week: Overlord will be the free offering, so get your mind set for some deliciously evil fun with your little minions.